Highway gutter sweeper



Aug- 22, l961 F. R. AIMERs ETAL 2,996,742

HIGHWAY GUTTER swEEPER Filed May 15, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 22, 1961Filed May 15, "1957 F. R. AIMERS ETAL HIGHWAY GUTTER SWEEPER 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 22, 1961 F. R. AIMERS ETAL HIGHWAY GUTTER swEEPERFiled May l5, 1957 nited States Patent 2,996,742 HIGHWAY GUTTER SWEEPERFrancis R. Aimers, Hazelcrest, and Thomas F. Murphy, Homewood, Ill.,assignors to Aimers Manufacturing Company, Thornton, Ill., a corporationof Illinois Filed May 15, 1957, Ser. No. 659,363 Claims. (Cl. 15-87) Ourinvention relates to improvements in street sweepers.

Our invention relates more particularly to highway gutter sweepers ofthe type capable of attachment as a unit to the front of a highwaymaintenance truck or other vehicle so that it can be swung to the rightor to the left to sweep the gutter along either side of the highway.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide Va highwaygutter sweeper unit for attachment to the front of a highway maintenancetruck or other vehicle in such manner that it can be swung about asupporting pivot to either the right or left side of the highway foroperation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a unit of thistype hydraulically operated by a motor mounted over the broom.

A further object is to provide in a unit of the type described agenerally horizontally disposed broom which may be mounted centrally infront of the vehicle for traveling when not in use and which may beswung to either the right or left side of the vehicle and held inworking position when in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a generally horizontallydisposed rotatable broom mounted on pantograph arms so that the workingsurface of the same will always be at the same angle in a raised orlowered position.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism associatedwith a broom of the type described for locking the same in a positioncentrally of the front of the truck for traveling.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a unit of the classdescribed of means for raising the broom and associated parts to atraveling position with a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the front of thehighway truck.

Other features of the invention reside in the provision of a hydraulicvalve whereby the broom may be driven to revolve in either a clockwiseor counter-clockwise direction, the provision of a construction forangular displacement of the drive shaft of the broom, the manner inwhich the unit is mounted on the front of the highway truck, and theease of removability of the unit by removing a pair of pins, loosening achain and uncoupling the hydraulic hoses to the drive motor of thebroom.

Other objects and advantages will bev more apparent from the followingdescription wherein reference is had to the `accompanying drawings, uponwhich FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing the highway truck withthe unit mounted on the front of the same and the broom swung to theleft for cleaning out the left highway gutter;

FIG. 2 is generally a plan view of the unit and mounting structure onthe front of the truck, showing the broom swung both to the right and tothe left at 90 degrees, this showing being in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the gutter sweeper unit showing thesame mounted onv the front of a highway truck and extended forwardtherefrom in a position for traveling along a highway;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan sectional view abovethe pantograph armstaken generally on the line 4-4 of Y show other parts;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the connection of thepantograph arms to the support for the hydraulic motor and drive shaftof the broom, taken generally on the lines 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view showing the brace for thepantograph arms when the broom is in operating position, taken generallyon the lines 6-6 of FIG. 4.

In the embodiment of the invention which we have chosen to illustrateand describe, we have shown a highway maintenance truck 10 which may Ibeprovided with the usual radiator 11 at the front of the truck, the truckalso having thefront bumper support 12 having an upright frame 14 thatcarries a front Z-bar 16 thereon. A pivot 18 is provided on the Z-bar tosupport an arm 20 that is connected at the pivot 22 with the end of apiston rod 24 in `a pivotally mounted ram 26, the lower end of the rambeing supported in a bracket 28 on top of the front bumper support 12. Abumper 30 in the shape of an outwardly facing channel member is alsoprovided across the front of the `bumper support 12, the bumper 30having two pairs of outwardly extending ear members 32, each having anopening 34 therethrough. This is usual or standard equipment on highwaymaintenance trucks for carrying snow plows or other road workingequipment that may be attached as a unit on the front of the highwaytruck. A The unit which we provide for sweeping the gutters along thehighway may generally comprise a horizontally disposed broom B having adrive shaft 36 supported in a housing 38, a hydraulic motor 40 fordriving the same, a pantograph arm support P, a vertical post 42 towhich the pantograph arms are connected, and a supporting frame 44 thatis attached by a pair of bolts to a pair of downwardly extending framemembers 46 from the bumper support 12.

The frame 44 may include an upright plate 50l from which the anglemembers 52 extend diagonally to the supports 46 and are fastened theretoon the bolt members 54. A pair of vertical diagonal braces 56 areconnected between the upright plate 50 and the diagonal braces 52. Theplate 50 carries a pair of outwardly facing side plates 58 provided withaligned bolt holes 60 throughout their length and receive a channelshaped post support 62 therebetween, the legs of the channel shaped postsupport also having aligned bolt openings therethrough so that a bolt 64can be passed through the four `aligned openings for positioning of thepost 42 in a vertical plane. The upper and lower ends of the postsupport 62 may carry outwardly extending bosses 66 which have alignedopenings 68 therethrough to receive a pair of pins 70 and 72 at thebottom and at the top of the post 42, the post being shorter than thespace between the extended ends 66.

A chain 74 may be connected between the end of the arm 20 and a lug 76near the top of the post 42. This connection is for the purpose ofraising the sweeper unit suspended from the post from the surface of theroad when it is desired to travel from one place of work to another, itbeing understood that when the new work location is reached, the rampermits the arm 20 to be lowered so that the sweeper unit may be loweredin the post support 62 to the desired height for operation.

The post 42 is provided with two pairs of aligned ears adjacent the topand the bottom of the same, the ears 80 having aligned openingstherethrough to receive a pin 82 upon which one end of each of the arms84 and 86 is mounted. The arms 84 and 86 extend forward and are receivedat their opposite Vends on a pair of similar pins 88 and 90 mounted inpairs of ears 94 and 96 which exl 3 ,f tend back'from the mounting plate92 for the drive shaft housing 38.

The housing 38 may be generally cylindrical in shape with the driveshaft 36 extending therethrough and is provided on its back side with aat support plate 9S fastened to the plate 92 by a pair of bolts 100 and102. The plate 92 may have an arcuate elongated slot 104 therethrough sothat the angle at which the housing 38 is disposed may be laterallyshifted to the right or to the left to position the broom B at theproper angle for sweeping either the right or the left gutter ofthe-highway.

The drive shaft housing 38 may be provided with suitable bearingstherein for the support of the broom shaft 36 including a bearing 106 ina drive housing 108 positioned at the upper end of the housing 3S. Thishousing may also enclose the pinion 110 at the end of the motor shaft112, a chain 114 and a sprocket 116 fastened to the upper end of thebroom shaft 36.

The hydraulic motor 40 is suitably mounted on top of the housing 108with the shaft 112 extending downwardly therefrom into the housing 108.A pair of hydraulic conduits 118 and 120 may extend from a suitablesource of fluid under pressure on the maintenance truck, and the usualcontrols may be provided in the cab of the truck both for turning thehydraulic motor on and for directing the driving fluid to either side ofthe same for either clockwise or counter-clockwise movement of the broomB.

For positioning the broom unit centrally forward of the truck fordriving from one job to another, we have provided a pair of diagonalbraces 122 and 124 which extend from a pair of ears 126 on the housing108 outwardly to connect to a pair of lugs 127 at both sides of thecross-bar 16 of the bumper support frame 14. When the truck arrives atthe scene of action, the braces 122 and 124 may be removed and theentire unit is free to swing through an arc of approximately 180 eitherto the right or to the left to arrive in a sweeping position.

For holding the sweeper unit at right angles to the truck either at theright or at the left, we have providedV a rigid T-shaped brace 12S thathas an arm 130y having its end 132 fastened by a bolt 134 between theears 32 on the front bumper 30 of the truck. The arm extends outwardlyand has a cross-bar 136 which bears against the back of the pantographarms 84 and S6, thus supporting the same at right angles to the truck asthe truck is moving forward in a sweeping operation. The brace 136 is ofsufficient length so that the arms may move up and down through a slightangle as the sweeping progresses, the brace thus supporting the sweeperunit during the forward progress of the same.

Thus with the use ofthe T-shaped brace as provided, it can be seen thatit is a simple matter to remove the brace from one set of support ears32 and place it in the other for sweeping either the right or the leftgutter of the highway. For providing a yielding or a resilient supportin addition to the pantograph arms, we provide a pair of coiled springmembers 140 connected to suitable lugs on both sides of the post 42, thesprings being connected by a connecting rod 141 and tumbuckle 142 tovsuitable lugs 146 on each side of the arm 86 at the lower end of themounting plate 92.

From the above and foregoing description it can be seen that we haveprovided a highway gutter' sweeper unit which, by simply changing thebrace plate, can bev used to sweep on either the right or the left sideof thev highway truck. In addition, the same is easily tixedly positionforward ofthe front of the truck for traveling hydraulic hoses may thenbe uncoupled and the sweepingunit is separated from the truck. It can beseen from the foregoing description tha-t the unit is comparativelylightv 2,996,742 1 l l ,l

in weight and is adaptable to attachment to the usual highwaymaintenance trucks that are in use.

While we have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of ourinvention, it will `be apparent to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made in the exact details shown and we do notwish to be limited in any particular; rather what we desire to secureand protect by Letters Patent of the United States l. The combinationwith a highway maintenance truck having a front bumper and bumpersupport, a hydraulic ram thereon and an arm adapted to have its endraised or lowered connected to said ram, of a forwardly extending guttersweeper unit comprising a V-shaped support frame pivotally connected atthe extended ends of its legs to said bumper support, a vertical postframe carried by said legs, a vertically disposed post rotatably mountedon said post frame, the upper end of said post connected by a chain tothe end of said arm, said V-shaped support frame adapted to be raised orlowered by said chain, a pair of vertically aligned parallel armspivotally connected to and extending from said post, a plate pivotallyconnected to and carried at the outer end of said arms and a broomassembly carried by said plate, said broom assembly comprising a driveshaft housing fastened to said plate, a vertical drive shaft therein, ahydraulic motor mounted on said housing, a chain drive from said motorto said drive shaft and a horizontally disposed broom fastened to thebottom end of said drive shaft.

2. The combination with a highway maintenance truck having a frontbumper and bumper support, a hydraulic ram thereon and an arm adapted tohave its end raised or lowered connected to said ram, of a forwardlyextending gutter sweeper unit comprising a V-shaped support framepivotally connected at the extended ends of its legs to said `bumpersupport, a vertical post frame carried by said legs, a verticallydisposed post rotatably mounted on said post frame, the upper end ofsaid post connected a chain to the end of said arm, said V-shapedsupport frame adapted to be raised or lowered by said chain, a pair ofvertically aligned parallel arms pivotally connected to and extendingfrom said post, a plate pivotally connected to and carried at the outerend of said arms and a broom assembly carried by said plate, said broomassembly comprising a drive shaft housing fastened to said plate, avertical drive shaft therein, a hydraulic motor mounted on said housing,a chain drive from said motor to said drive shaft and a horizontallydisposed broom fastened to the bottom end of said drive shaft, saiddrive shaft housing being mounted for angular adjustment on said plate.

3. The combination with a highway maintenance truck having a frontbumper and bumper support, a hydraulic ram thereon and an arm adapted tohave its end raised or lowered connected to said ram, of a forwardlyextending gutter sweeper unit comprising a V-shaped support framepivotally connected at the extended ends of its legs to said bumpersupport, a vertical post frame carried by said legs, a verticallydisposed post rotatably mounted on said post frame, the upper end ofsaid post connectedl by a chain to the end of said arm, said V-shapedsupport' frame adapted to be raised or lowered by said chain, a pair ofpivoted parallel arms extending from said post, a broom assemblyincluding a hydraulic motor connected to the end of said arms and abrace for attachment to said bumper to bear against said arms and limitswinging movement of said broom assembly.

4. The combination with a highway maintenance truck having a frontbumper and bumper support, a hydraulic ram thereon and an arm adapted tohave its end raised or lowered connected to said ram, of a forwardlyextending gutter sweeper unit comprising a V-shaped support framepivotally connected at the extended ends of its legs to said bumpersupport, a vertical post frame carried by said legs, a verticallydisposed post rotatably mounted on said post frame, the upper end ofsaid post connected by a chain to the end of said arm, said V- shapedsupport frame adapted to be raised or lowered by said chain, a pair ofpivoted parallel arms extending from said post, a broom assemblyincluding a hydraulic motor connected to the end of said arms and abrace for attachment to said bumper to bear against said arms and limitswinging movement of said broom assembly, said brace being T-shaped andsecured at the bottom end of its stem to the bumper and extendingforward therefrom with the vertical cross-bar adjacent one side of theparallel arms.

5. A highway gutter sweeper unit capable of attachment to a highwaymaintenance truck having a front bumper support, comprising a framehaving a pair of forwardly directed converging braces, said bracesadapted to be attached at their diverging ends to the truck bumpersupport, a rotatably mounted vertically disposed pos-t carried betweenthe forward ends of said braces at their meeting ends, a horizontallydisposed broom, a drive shaft extending upwardly therefrom, a driveshaft housing, a mounting plate for said housing, said housing mountedfor angular adjustability on said plate, a pair of pins ycarried by saidplate, -a pair of pins carried by said post and -a pair of verticallyarranged parallel arms connected between said sets of pins lwhereby saidbroom may be raised or lowered and kept lat a constant angle with thehighway.

6. A highway gutter sweeper unit capable of attachment to a highwaymaintenance truckhaving a front bumper support, comprising a framehaving a pair of forwardly directed converging braces, said bracesadapted to be attached at their diverging ends to the truck bumpersupport, 4a rotatably mounted vertically disposed post carried betweenthe forward ends of said braces Iat their meeting ends, a horizontallydisposed broom, a drive shaft extending upwardly therefrom, a driveshaft housing, a mounting plate lfor said housing, said housingangularly disposable on said plate, ya pair of pins carried by saidplate, a pair of pins carried by said post Iand a pair of verticallyarranged parallel arms connected between said sets of pins whereby saidbroom many be raised or lowered and kept at a constant angle with thehighway, and means for raising said broom positioned on the front end ofsaid truck.

7. A highway gutter -sweeper unit capable of attachment to a highwaymaintenance truck having a front bumper support, comprising a framehaving a pair of braces extending diagonally forwardly in the samehorizontal plane lfrom spaced points on the truck bumper support to meetat an apex, an outwardly directed vertically disposed channel connectedto the apex of said braces, an inwardly facing vertically disposedchannel carried therein, a post support frame carried by said secondchannel member, a vertical post supported in -said frame, Ia set of pinscarried by said post, a horizontally disposed broom, a verticallydisposed drive shaft eX- tending upwardly therefrom, a drive shafthousing, a vertical mounting plate fastened to said housing, aVertically arranged parallel set of cross pins carried by said post andfa pair of :arms colnnected between said sets of pins whereby said broommay be raised or lowered and kept at the same angle, and means forraising said broom positioned on the front end of said truck, said meanscomprising a hydraulically operated pivoted arm connected to the top ofsaid vertically disposed post.

8. A highway gutter Ysweeper unit capable of attachment to a highwaymaintenance truck having a front bumper support, comprising a framehaving a pair of braces extending diagonally forwardly in the samehorizontal plane from spaced points on the truck bumper support to meetat an apex, an outwardly directed vertically disposed channel connectedto the apex of said braces, an inwardly facing vertically disposedchannel carried therein, a post support frame carried by said secondchannel member, a vertical post supported in said frame, a set of pinscarried by said post, a horizontally disposed broom, a verticallydisposed drive shaft extending upwardly therefrom, a drive shafthousing, a vertical mounting plate fastened to said housing, a set ofcross pins carried by said post and -a pair of vertically arrangedparallel arms connected 'between said sets of pins whereby said broommay be raised or lowered and kept at the same angle, said arms and broomassembly capable of rotation -about said post to either the left orright side of said truck and a T-shaped Ibrace connected to said truckbumper and adapted to bear against Iboth of said arms to limit movementof -said broom assembly about said post.

9. The combination with a highway maintenance truck having a frontbumper and bumper support, a hydraulic ram thereon and a pivoted armconnected to said ram, of a gutter sweeper unit comprising a supportframe formed of a pair of braces extending diagonally forwardly fromspaced points on the truck bumper support to meet at an apex, a supportpost mounting assembly carried by said frame, a chain connected betweena por-tion of said support post mounting assembly and one end of saidarm, an upright support channel carried by said assembly, a postmounting bracket vertically slidably mounted in said support channel, apost pivotally mounted in said bracket, -a pair of parallel armsextending from said post, a plate carried at the outer end of said armsand a horizontally -disposed broom assembly carried -by said plate.

vl0. The combination with a highway maintenance truck having a frontbumper and bumper support, a hydraulic ram thereon and a pivoted armconnected to said ram, of a gutter sweeper unit comprising a supportframe formed of a pair of braces extending diagonally forwardly fromspaced points on the truck bumper support to meet at an apex, an uprightsupport channel carried by said braces, a post mounting bracketvertically slidably mounted in said support channel, 4a post pivotallymounted in said bracket, a chain connected between an end of said armand said post, a pair of vertically arranged parallel arms extendingfrom said post, a plate carried at the outer end of said arms, -ahorizontally disposed broom assembly carried by said plate, said broomassembly capable of being carried directly 'in front of said truck whennot in use and of being swung 90 to either right or left for a guttersweeping operation, and said front bumper having a brace memberextending forward therefrom to bear against said arms when swung toeither side for a sweeping oper-ation.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,901,647 Howald Mar. 14, 1933 2,248,012 Phillips July 1, 1941 2,259,632Grace Oct. 2l, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 651,826 Great Britain Apr. 11, 1951

